How to Store Buttercream Frosting
When it comes to keeping buttercream, there are several possibilities. Of course, it all depends on the sort of buttercream and the occasion.
Buttercream may be kept at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or frozen, depending on the recipe.
I’ve compiled all of my favourite ideas for storing homemade frosting to keep things organized and that buttercream fresh.
For this piece, I’ll focus on American Buttercream since that’s what I use the most, but I’ll mention other varieties of buttercream, such as Swiss Meringue, on occasion.
Contents
- American buttercream:
- Other buttercream frostings that contain eggs, cream cheese, or whipped cream:
- Tips & FAQs:
- Other posts you might like:
- FAQs
- Does buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated?
- How do you store fresh buttercream icing?
- How do you store buttercream frosting for later use?
- How long can you store homemade buttercream frosting?
- Can you leave a cake with buttercream frosting out at room temperature?
- Do you need to cover buttercream cake in fridge?
- Do you refrigerate homemade buttercream?
- Can you ice a cake with buttercream the day before?
- Can you decorate a cake with buttercream the day before?
- How do you store a cake with buttercream icing overnight?
American buttercream:
American buttercream (buttercream prepared with butter, milk, and confectioners sugar) may normally be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-5 days if not too heated.
After a few days of keeping the buttercream at room temperature, it may be refrigerated to help extend its freshness, which can help it last up to a week.
You can also freeze American buttercream by placing it in an airtight container or by wrapping smaller mounds in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer bag.
American buttercream may be frozen for up to 3 months. Check out this page for more information on freezing buttercream: Plus Freezing Buttercream What to Make of Leftovers
Just a brief reminder: Keep buttercream away from strong-smelling foods like garlic and onions. You don’t want the buttercream to absorb those aromas.
Other buttercream frostings that contain eggs, cream cheese, or whipped cream:
If the buttercream recipe calls for eggs or cream cheese, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least 5 days and up to a week, depending on the recipe.
This sort of buttercream frosting should not be stored at room temperature since it will deteriorate.
Swiss Meringue frosting and cream cheese frosting may be frozen in an airtight container, or smaller mounds of buttercream can be wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag.
It may be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Check out this page for more information on freezing buttercream: Plus Freezing Buttercream What to Make of Leftovers
Freezing whipped cream frostings may not be as effective since it alters the texture and may or may not be re-whippable.
Tips & FAQs:
In general, American buttercream may be stored at room temperature for many days but should be refrigerated to maintain freshness. Other buttercreams including eggs, whipped cream, or cream cheese should not be kept at room temperature for long.
When kept in an airtight container, American buttercream may stay up to a week in the fridge.
Make sure the buttercream is in an airtight container and that it can be kept at room temperature or in the fridge overnight if it is American buttercream. Other forms of buttercream that involve perishable ingredients may be preserved in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.
Remove the buttercream from the refrigerator and let it to come to room temperature on its own whether it is an American buttercream or Swiss Meringue buttercream.
Another method for reheating American buttercream is to remove it from the refrigerator and microwave it for 30 seconds to a minute at a time, stirring between heat sessions, until the buttercream is spreadable.
Mix it with a silicone spatula or put it to a bowl and beat it with an electric mixer at that point.
Remove the buttercream from the freezer at least a day or several hours before you need it.
If you’re using an American buttercream recipe, you may let it defrost at room temperature.
If the recipe calls for eggs or cream cheese, watch how long it sits at room temperature. It should be alright for many hours while it thaws, but once it approaches room temperature, it must be kept in the refrigerator to avoid spoilage.
Make sure to either stir the buttercream again with a silicone spatula or transfer it to a mixing bowl and whip it with an electric mixer to fluff it back up.
No. Buttercream frosting must be close to room temperature to pipe or it will be too hard.
This website has various buttercream frosting recipes.
The three most common are:Buttercream with Vanilla BeansChocolate Buttercream DoubleHeat Stable Bright White Buttercream
You may also get the entire list of frostings here: Recipes for Buttercream, Frosting, and Filling
Yes, I do this all the time using American buttercream. Just keep in mind that you should not store it in this manner for an extended amount of time, but it should be good for a day or two.
If using American buttercream, place the piping bag in a zip lock bag and let it out at room temperature, or store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for many days. However, before attempting to pipe with it, let it to return to room temperature.
Frosting with food coloring may be stored in the same manner as conventional buttercream. You should re-mix it before using it if it is kept at room temperature, cold, or frozen.
You should read this page for more information on how to keep cakes: How to Keep a Cake
You should read this page for more information on how to keep frosted cupcakes: How to Keep Frosted Cupcakes Fresh
Yes! Unless you’re making whipped cream frosting, you can usually prepare it ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.Make sure to read the remainder of the article to learn how to properly store buttercream so that it doesn’t spoil.
Other posts you might like:
- How Long Does Cake Last in the Fridge?
- Does Powdered Sugar Go Bad?
- Common Cake Decorating Terms and What They Mean
- 12 Simple and Easy Buttercream Cake Borders
- Should I Refrigerate My Cake Before Decorating?
- How to Color Dark Buttercream Colors
FAQs
Does buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated?
If you use 100% butter in your buttercream recipe, it must be refrigerated. Once your cake has reached room temperature, an all-butter recipe may melt off. If you make a pure white buttercream with no butter and just shortening, it may be stored at room temperature for up to two days.
How do you store fresh buttercream icing?
Buttercream stores nicely in an airtight container in the refrigerator for approximately a week or in the freezer for 3-4 months. If you expect to consume the buttercream soon, let it out at room temperature for a day.
How do you store buttercream frosting for later use?
Transfer frosting to an airtight glass or plastic food container to preserve in the refrigerator. Refrigerated buttercream frosting should keep for at least seven days.
How long can you store homemade buttercream frosting?
Buttercream frosting may be kept in the fridge for up to a month and in the freezer for up to three months if stored correctly.
Can you leave a cake with buttercream frosting out at room temperature?
A buttercream-frosted cake may be kept at room temperature for up to three days. If you wish to store a decorated cake in the refrigerator, leave it uncovered until the icing hardens somewhat. It may then be covered lightly with plastic.
Do you need to cover buttercream cake in fridge?
If the cake includes a dairy-based icing, such as buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or mascarpone, or a fresh fruit filling, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The plastic wrap will keep the cake from absorbing other flavors in the fridge.
Do you refrigerate homemade buttercream?
After a few days of keeping the buttercream at room temperature, it may be refrigerated to help extend its freshness, which can help it last up to a week.
Can you ice a cake with buttercream the day before?
Yes, you may frost a cake the day before you want to serve it. Keep in mind, however, that any cakes iced with dairy-based components, such as cream cheese, butter, or heavy cream, should be kept refrigerated. They should not be left outside overnight.
Can you decorate a cake with buttercream the day before?
You certainly can. It’s preferable to decorate the cake as soon to the day of serving as possible, but it will keep nicely in the fridge as well. If the icing or frosting contains perishable components, store the cake in the refrigerator to keep it as fresh as possible.
How do you store a cake with buttercream icing overnight?
Overnight storage of a decorated cake. To keep a buttercream cake overnight, wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a container at room temperature. If your cake is iced with cream cheese or ganache, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.